October 2009 | Film Festival Today

Tribeca Review: “The Lorraine”
By Christopher Llewellyn Reed
June 8, 2026
The Lorraine (Sam Pollard, 2026) 3½ out of 5 stars Director Sam Pollard (Max Roach: The Drum Also Waltzes) is a reliably competent documentarian, always able to inform as well as engage. In The Lorraine, a film conceived and written by Alvin Hall, Pollard gives us the account of the titular motel, in Memphis, Tennessee. Black-owned, it reached its peak of popularity during the segregated era of the American South, appearing in Victor Hugo ... >>
Tribeca Review: “Gail Daughtry and the Celebrity Sex Pass”
By Christopher Llewellyn Reed
June 5, 2026
Gail Daughtry and the Celebrity Sex Pass (David Wain, 2026) 3 out of 5 stars An immensely silly film that deserves full kudos for effort, Gail Daughtry and the Celebrity Sex Pass is both beneficiary and victim of its almost overwhelming zest for fun. Starring Zoey Deutch (Nouvelle Vague) in the title role and a very game supporting cast—including Jennifer Aniston (Dumplin’), Jon Hamm (Maggie Moore(s)), and John Slattery (Nuremberg) as heightened ... >>
Tribeca Review: “Earth, Wind & Fire (To Be Celestial VS That’s the Weight of the World)”
By Christopher Llewellyn Reed
June 4, 2026
Earth, Wind & Fire (To Be Celestial VS That’s the Weight of the World) (Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson, 2026) 3½ out of 5 stars The Roots drummer Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson, also a documentarian, just premiered his latest film, Earth, Wind & Fire (To Be Celestial VS That’s the Weight of the World), at the 2026 Tribeca Festival. As was the case with his otherwise-strong feature debut, Summer of Soul (…Or, When the ... >>
“Forge” Is a Smart and Stylish Caper
By George W. Campbell
May 21, 2026
Forge (Jing Ai Ng, 2026) 3½ out of 5 stars In a criminal underworld filled with grifters, where deception can be your livelihood, art forgery is a uniquely difficult trade. Your brushwork must be faithful enough to fool experts, but not personal enough to feel like it’s yours. It’s a delicate tightrope to walk, but thankfully, writer/director Jing Ai Ng is eager to explore it in her feature directorial debut, Forge. Taking a cue from crime ... >>
Mads Mikkelsen Shines in “The Last Viking”
By Patrick Howard
May 21, 2026
The Last Viking (Anders Thomas Jensen, 2025) 4½ out of 5 stars In The Last Viking, Anker (Nikolaj Lie Kaas, Frankenstein) is released from prison for robbery, only to learn that the money he stole was buried by his brother, Manfred (Mads Mikkelsen, Dust Bunny). To make matters worse, Manfred can no longer remember where he stashed the stolen loot. As the brothers set out to find the money, the search turns chaotic, and Anker and Manfred ... >>